Things have really changed for the better here. The atmosphere is so much more inviting than in previous years. Lighting and paint are one thing but it's very clear that they hired people that have warm attitudes. I've never had a transaction here that felt...well...transactional. A few weeks ago one of their baristas explained to me the process in which they make their Italian Soda with creme. Today they walked me through all the food options and provided a drink suggestion. I've waited to post a review because I usually get the same two things every time I come here: italian soda or drip. The italian soda is the best I've ever had. So much so that when I know I can't get my fix at BM, I've bought my own home kit to make it. Their drip can compete with the other Denton coffee landmarks but falls short of a few speciality places like Shift and Cultivar. It is consistent though which makes it the best coffee around the UNT campus. What finally convinced me to write the review though was their iced coffee, particularly the cold brew. It is the second best iced coffee I've ever had (Summermoon in Austin is still #1). The smoothness of this drink is remarkable. The mental imagery I get is one of an Olympic snowboarder making their first run of the day on fresh snow. It's just too satisfying to encapsulate. BM still has some room for growth. Ironically the best way to achieve that is through simplification. Their seating is packed tight and can lead to uncomfortable moments if you're desiring a place for intimate conversation with a friend. Parking is also difficult but then again, that's not their audience. There is no private parking here. Lastly I have to compliment them on WiFi that is as consistent as their drip. It competes with large established chains despite being a place where nearby residents could easily mooch for months. Try this place out before class or when you have a large gap of time. It's much better than any other options you have around campus. read more

Came in today around 11:00am and there was a long line - understandable, it's still morning for many students and lunch time for others. I ordered two 12 oz dirty chai lattes (which totaled more than $12!!) One was whole milk and one was soy. After waiting fifteen minutes it turns out they made both of them with whole milk. The guy making the drinks acted like it was my fault when I pointed out that one was supposed to be soy and didn't apologize, just silently remade it. It even said so on the ticket, what can I do? After all that wait, I should have gone to Starbucks. The lattes tasted watery and bitter. I've had the coffee at Big Mike's and it's pretty good - but clearly the specialty drinks, specifically their house made chai, is significantly overpriced and sub-par. 02/06/17 Revisit Have not been to this location since my previous review. Looks like they've changed hands and are now "Aura Coffee" so I decided to pop in and see if it's really changed. Spoiler alert, it hasn't. Went in on a quiet Monday morning around 9:30am. Nobody in front of me or waiting for drinks. Ordered a double shot, a soy latte, and an iced coffee. Took almost 15 minutes and the staff was just as apathetic and stuck-up as they've always been. No thanks. read more

I sometimes wonder if college area establishments provide destitute interiors to match the student clients' financial situation for empathy or as a chic statement. Whatever the reason, it doesn't impact the quality of the product, which in this case is the coffee. My daughter's car broke down so I became the "public transportation" option since DFW lacks so much in that department. I had to find a place to work while she attended class and her recommendation was Big Mike's. Very close to her classes and "great coffee" were her claims. Literally right across the street from the campus substantiated her first claim; and the quality of the coffee ranking among the best I've tasted validated her second. Ample space for sitting/studying/working, this is truly a student's dream for breaks, hangout, or late night studying sessions. The decor and location don't lend itself to a professional setting (which is the only reason I didn't give it a 5) but that is obviously not their target audience. Whether visiting a student, the campus, or the area in general, Big Mike's is a worthwhile side trip. If you make it, look for an old guy obviously out of place among students. It just might be me! read more

When I walk into this place, I get homesick for Austin. This is a socially-aware 24-hour coffee shop that will send even the most pretentious coffee snobs writing home to mom. And they are right across the street from campus! I also appreciate that they do not have a credit card minimum, since I never carry cash and I don't want to drop $5 every time I need a cup of coffee. On top of all that, gluten free snacks galore. I didn't give Mike's 5 stars only because every so often (often enough that I'm writing about it now), the customer service really sucks. For instance, once I had to wait for the barista, who didn't even acknowledge me, to finish a conversation with his friend about some band. For three freakin' minutes. Sometimes also I have to wait for a barista to do some back-of-the-house work before placing my order. Since I usually only get a drip coffee (which is self-serve), it irks me to have to wait over a couple of minutes. But usually the baristas are really cool and make a fine espresso drink. Yeah Mike's! read more

Perfect place for adults to hang out in this part of town, as all the other immediate options seemed full of freshman college kids. My girlfriends and I finished our night out here, in an effort to wind down. Our wonderful barista was a handsome, charming and very flirty guy that had wonderful recommendations. He poured a lovely "Almond Joy" for me in one of many mismatched mugs. It sounded so good my friend ordered the same, and the other friend ordered their cold brew thingy (he explained the brew process but I was too distracted by trying to look cute). The flavor of my latte was delicious and it was one he had recommended, and my other friends loved their drinks as well. Bike Mike himself was there, and he was just what I would have expected. The atmosphere was lovely and full of mismatched furniture and local art. Mike was fun and super sweet, and just hippy enough to be the owner of a 24 hour coffee shop. Did I mention 24 hour is wonderful? Please Mesquite, learn from Denton and open a 24 hour joint for me to enjoy into the night. And cute baristas are always a bonus. read more

Best cappuccino I've ever had! I love this place, the atmosphere is amazing and the staff is always super nice. Their muffins are pretty good and their specialty drinks are yummy, I'm partial to the ziggy stardust. read more

Aura Coffee - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Denton, Texas

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Yeah, this used to be Voyager's Dream. I even bought a book on the How-To's of Tarot there. Fine, Mike, coffee sells better to these ungrateful college kids! The exterior is really misleading. You see this colorful art (Voyager's dream) and then you walk into a earth-toned interior with little pizazz. The best part is the row of laughing skulls that loom over you if you happen to sit by the windows on the north side. Baba Yaga, anyone? The day staff is nice, but the night staff is kinda bitchy. At least that one time. I think this place is 24-hours, so that's pretty bitchin'. One time, there was this one bitch outside who was drunk and some cop tried to arrest her. This he-bitch, wearing a hat, went outside, from big Mike's, and "saved" her and got her number. Smooth. Oh, this place seems like it needs more seats because there's always too many people. Too many goddamn TAMSters. read more

Don't let the odd facade scare you away. Big Mike's is Denton's only 24 hour coffee shop and serves up some of the best in town. They emphasize their commitment to fair trade and organic beverages and adamantly support other locally owned businesses. They even have a dance studio in the back where Cathy Barton and other belly dance enthusiasts teach regularly! I love the coffee and variety of drinks offered (I've tried most of the menu, and everything is fantastic), but I really can't bring myself to sit down and study here. It's generally crowded, which can be expected seeing as it's so close to the UNT campus. But the amount of people makes the place uncomfortably warm and the patrons might be lending a bit of stinkiness as well (dirty hipsters, please bathe). It's less crowded at night but half the light bulbs were out so studying there could really do a number on your eyes. Big Mike himself is such a sweet heart, though, and I'm so glad that his business is doing well. Four stars! read more

UPDATE TO PRIOR REVIEW: Big Mike's now uses both Avoca Coffee Roasters out of Fort Worth, and Bookish Coffee in Denton. I must now retract one of my prior critiques from an earlier review. read more

I like unpretentious coffee places, especially ones that are open 24/7. I stopped in here around 3 AM to get some caffeine before driving home to Austin. Didn't really get a chance to look around, mostly because I was served promptly. Went for some cold pressed coffee, which was super delicious and has zero acidity. You know it's cold pressed when it doesn't need a ton of sugar to taste good. Will be back the next time I'm forced to grace Denton with my presence :) read more

Tried the 12oz almond mocha & a slice of vegan pumpkin walnut bread. It cost me $8.12 which is a little absurd if you ask me. Still love ya, Big Mike but I'll probably just get regular coffee next time. read more

Good Stuff: Very chill spot to study, meet with friends (assuming you're not trying to impress anybody), or just stop by for coffee and a window seat. The people at the counter are usually very nice, though god forbid you get stuck behind a regular in line and have to listen to their bullshit yet unhurried conversation with the barista as he leisurely prepares their order. Bad Stuff: Their coffee isn't amazing, especially considering the prices. Unless you are one of those people who looks down in absolute awe at your fern leaf drawn into your cappicino foam, you will likely not be impressed with the coffee here. Some of their drinks are just...just no. I had a Lavender Chai Latte which unsurprisingly sounds a lot nicer than it tastes. They also have a lot of vegan options which would be a plus if they weren't consistently hard and/or gross tasting. It has a very divey feel that borders on being a little too divey for my taste. It's like the Andy's basement of coffee shops. Except that it's super expensive, and I actually like Andy's. read more

Cheap coffee and fast service makes this my number one spot to grab a cup of ice coffee on my way to class. I love that it's in a convenient location across from the UNT campus. The fruit smoothies are also really good, made from real fruit and no extra sugar added. It was the perfect pick-me-up for when I did't have time to eat between classes but needed something to hold me over for 2 hours. read more

Barista served me cold coffee! His excuse: "Sorry, going as fast as I can..." Don't go when you're in a hurry, clearly it's their first day. read more

Great little coffee shop located just across the street from UNT. There were a lot of people there on a Thursday afternoon. This wasn't around when I went to school at UNT, but it's a great location and value. If You need a quiet place to study go to the library since this isn't really that quiet. The espresso at this place was delicious! read more

Great house-made smoothies here, vegan options, and coffee is A-ok. Loved the horchata iced coffee drink which is new! Great environment to study or use wifi. They also have new house-made syrups for lattes which taste great! read more

BH has phenomenal lattes. Try their vanilla carmel latte hot or iced and you will be so pleased. I adore the rustic interior and furniture. My only issue is that I love coffee so much that I tend to want extra shots of espresso. The coffee here is already expensive af (to my standards) and to add an extra shot cost 1.72. Like what?! That's ridiculous for the average college student's budget. Also, one time, I asked for a green tea latte. And they literally steeped a green tea bag in hot water and added milk. I guess they have not discovered matcha yet. Other than that, the coffee and espresso drinks are all good. read more

What is better than a 24-hour coffee place right off campus for a college student? Well, for coffee fiends like me, not a lot. Great place to study and to meet up with people. read more

Always a great cup and super friendly people. Atmosphere is very hippy, funky, new age, but not so much as to be offensive. They always have a great supply of locally roasted beans that keep their cups the best in DFW. read more

My friends and I decided to stop by Big Mike's around 2 am one morning, after spending some time at Kush, right next door. We were pleasantly surprised at what we found : a cute 24 hour hipster coffee shop with the best breakfast burritos I've ever tasted and delicious raspberry italian soda. Not only that, but the guy behind the counter reminded me of Jason Segel,...and I love Jason Segel. read more

I thought I'd give Aura's a chance after a poor experience with them when they were known as Big Mike's. I grabbed a plain Toddy Cold Brew (which elsewhere I'd normally get an extra shot) but the pricing was a bit much for an added shot. The flavor was extremely weak, like someone gave me a cup of water with a touch of coffee "essence". Weak sauce. One toddy cold brew coffee is 3.50 The syrup flavor is an added cost $0.75 Then an extra shot is $1.75! Plus a suggested tip So roughly 6.00 for a cold brew coffee with everything I can get at the big chain for far less, with better flavor. Disappointing. read more

Hey Big Mike fans! Check it out! www.bigmikesdenton.weebly.com

A cup of regular, drip, coffee was $3.41. That's absurd. The atmosphere was drab, the barista was pleasant, but the coffee is way overpriced. read more

A regular cup of coffee is good and under $2 for a small. Good coffee and a good price, but I tried one of their signature drinks today that was almost $5, and I couldn't even taste any espresso. The drink was good, but just tasted like iced milk with coconut syrup. That drink really needs an extra shot of espresso. The food I saw did not look very appealing, and the inside does not seem inviting. I took my coffee to go. This used to be Big Mike's. It is definitely better than it used to be though. read more

Big Mike's Coffee has national barista competition winners working behind the counter. The people who don't have this amazing claim to fame are still likely to be many times better than the baristas you'll find at other coffee places around town. You are guaranteed to get some of the best coffee you've ever had at Big Mike's. In addition to the mind blowing coffee, they offer genuine sodas, great muffins and other nibbles, and have quite a large amount of seating. Sit back on the couch, the comfy recliner, or any number of large and small tables. read more

As I needed somewhere to relax between my clinics I found this cosy, quaint, and chill spot right off campus. I enjoyed the Big Mikes smoothie. I didn't stay long but will definitely be back. Customer service was just alright. read more

This place is garbage. It is a true shame because the coffe tastes delicious. The service however, is horrible--no scratch that, it is offensive and even pretentious at times. Several of the baristas look as if they don't bathe and make outrageous demands to non-paying customers. They seem eager to use the "we're a small business" card and call their own shots on the fly, utilizing tactics that border intimidation. I came in to study for a few hours and was harassed to throw away my outside drink. I was shocked because I frequent this place so often. Instead of being rewarded for being a repeat customer, they looked past my face and demanded I throw away my drink and even asked for $.25 for the cup of water I had...I can't believe the treatment I had today, and regret any and all purchases I've made with this place. read more

Big Mike's is your average, run-of-the-mill college coffee shop. Except worse, somehow. The decor is horrifically bland. I could say the same for the people inside. Everyone inside seemed bored, and half of them didn't even order coffee. Add this to a major lack of conversation and a seemingly unfriendly vibe, and you get yet another poorly-planned business decision on Fry Street. read more

It's very simple: there are two Third Wave coffee shops in Denton, and Big Mike's is one of them. (Seven Mile Coffee is the other.) Mike's is the "grungy" one of the pair, with baristas who are real and don't feel obligated to maintain lithium-fueled psycho-smiles. But they can pull a fucking shot. Mike's is near that corner of the UNT campus where humanities people come and go, from the English, Philosophy, Art, and Music departments. If that's your crowd, this will be your second home. read more

Never open when they say they are. Coffee is too expensive for what you actually get, and just ok. Interior is bland and kinda grimy. Staff is nice, but not enough of a standout for me to attempt to go back. read more

Try local, they said. You're in Denton, they said. Go to a hippie coffee shop, it'll be fun, they said. Nah fam. I mean, this place is just different. The house drip coffees offer some interesting flavors, but it just feels as if too much is going on. I forgot what I had, but it tasted very earthy and had a weird bitter sweetness. It wasn't very drinkable. Not bad coffee, but also not too enjoyable. read more

Great coffee, espresso, and fruit drinks. This is a fantastic place to study if you have a break between classes or if you need to cram because they are open 24 hours. Mike is a bit creepy but the baristas are always friendly and helpful if you are not sure what to get. read more

Big Mike's is perfect for your late night latte cravings or anytime you want a quiet place to study or relax. The baristas are always friendly and know their stuff. They can tell you more than you want to know about the coffee and tea they serve and really seem to care about the quality of the drinks they make. read more

This is the second best coffee I've had in Denton. Running a close second with Jupiter house because I am never by it but their coffee is just as good read more

Best coffee shop in Denton! Love that they don't charge extra for non-dairy milk. Really wish they had some gluten-free breakfast options though. read more

Great espresso! However, the atmosphere is not so great. They should remodel; it is just so dark and depressing in there. . .

Batistas are nice and always willing to help. Coffee and tea are good and fresh, it's usually a busy place but good for studying if you can find a seat. It's nice that it's right across the street from the UNT campus and it's easy to stop in and grab a coffee before class. Baked goods are also very yummy here. The place itself is pretty worn but that does not show in their service or product. read more

This place is really cool and chill :). Really good coffee for a low price. It's open 24 hours, so, I'm usually there after 12. If you bring your own cup its cheaper. Really nice seating. The only downside is the air. Ventilation sucks so its usually a little hot. Other than that, the coffee is great (the Chai Latte is awesome) and the prices are low. read more

Aw man, I'm gonna be the only guy that rags on big mikes but I gotta say it. I've had several stomach churning experiences and have had to turn my back on this local grunge/homeless receptical of a place. I do suppose I'm not the "typical" patron, and touché. I was honestly just disappointed with my latte, then my regular coffee, and always with the disgusting hard bagels. My milk was sour which used to sit on top of a fridge for hours on end. I'm just not that impressed, especially when there's a lot of Great coffee in this town. I was mostly just passing thru on my way to class or work in the morning, but I'll make the extra trek over to the study inside Willis for my on-campus cup of Joe. read more

It took longer than expected to get my coffee and the prices were higher than I expected. The staff was friendly. It was just ok and I doubt that I will return. read more